Method for re-establishing telephone calls after unintended termination

ABSTRACT

A system for operating a wireless mobile device that automatically re-establishes a telephone call after unintended disconnection is disclosed and may include at least one processor operable to wirelessly receive, via a communication network, a first telephone call having associated information identifying a calling party. The at least one processor may be operable to determine whether the calling party or the wireless mobile device is to establish a second telephone call between the calling party and the wireless mobile device upon failure of the first telephone call. The at least one processor may be operable to store the information identifying the calling party of the first telephone call, and to detect a failure of the first telephone call. The at least one processor may be operable to determine whether call re-establishment should be attempted, based upon one or more pre-determined factors.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/928,019 filed Aug. 27, 2004 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,486,949), whichmakes reference to, claims priority to, and claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/551,949, entitled “Method ForRe-Establishing Telephone Calls After Unintended Termination”, filedMar. 10, 2004, the complete subject matter of which is herebyincorporated herein by reference, in its entirety.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[Not Applicable]

MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE

[Not Applicable]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Users of present day cellular telephone networks frequently experiencethe loss or “dropping” of a call. Dropped calls in cellular networks mayresult from a variety of causes including, for example, gaps in cellularcoverage, system congestion during periods of heavy usage, and thefailure of call handoffs. When a wireless call ends, the wirelesssubscriber is frequently not informed whether the other party ended thecall, or whether the call was dropped due to a problem with the wirelessnetwork connection, even though the wireless network or the cellulartelephone may have that information. A user may continue to carry on aconversation after the other party is no longer part of the call. Eachtime a call is dropped, one of the parties must redial the other party'snumber to re-establish the call. Some cellular telephones provide anaudible tone to indicate to the user when an idle cellular phone entersand exits areas of cellular service. The cellular telephone user,however, does not necessarily know when and where cellular coverage willbe re-established, or for how long. Although there are typicallymultiple wireless service providers for a given geographic area, asubscriber is usually restricted to the use of their own serviceprovider, even when coverage by their own service provider is poor.Therefore, the user must repeatedly check the cellular telephone (whichtypically has a display indicating signal strength) to determine whenthere is sufficient coverage to re-establish the call, or mustrepeatedly and blindly activate the “redial” feature of the cellulartelephone, if one is provided, until the call is re-established. Even ifthe redial feature is available, the telephone of the party thatreceived the call would not be able to take advantage of that featuresince it did not originate the call. The process of re-establishing thedropped call is particularly unsafe when the user is driving anautomobile, and in any instance is extremely inconvenient. Moreover,when signal strength is just barely sufficient to establish calls, it isnot uncommon for there to be a rapid succession of drops and redials.

In some situations, one or both parties may not know the number of theother party. This may occur when a call is dropped after the connectionto the called party has been completed by directory assistance, or whenthe call was placed to a central number and a then connection to theextension of the called party is established. In addition, a subscribermay be on hold or in a queue when the call is lost, and may lose theirpriority and be forced to re-establish the call through a series of menuchoices.

Often, one party to the call still has cellular coverage, or is servedvia a wired network connection. The party with working cellular ortelephone service may call the party whose service failed and, beingunable to establish contact due to lack of coverage, is directed to thedropped user's voicemail. While the party with service is leaving amessage, the wireless subscriber who lost coverage may regain it, andmay then attempt to re-establish the call. They may then receive a busysignal, and to add to the confusion, received notification of avoicemail message. This may continue to delay re-establishing the call.

Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditionalapproaches will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the artthrough comparison of such systems with the present invention as setforth in the remainder of the present application with reference to thedrawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention may be seen in a method ofautomatically re-establishing a telephone call after unintendeddisconnection. Such a method may comprise receiving a first telephonecall via a wireless communication network, storing informationidentifying an origin of the first telephone call, detecting a failureof the first telephone call, and automatically establishing a secondtelephone call to the origin of the first telephone call using thestored information. The wireless communication network may comprise acellular communication network. The detecting may use at least onecharacteristic of a wireless communication link. In variousrepresentative embodiments of the present invention, the at least onecharacteristic may comprise a signal strength, an error rate, a signalto noise ratio, and an Eb/No measurement. A representative embodiment ofthe present invention may comprise waiting a predetermined amount oftime. Another representative embodiment may comprise determining whetherat least one characteristic of a wireless communication link meets apredetermined condition, initiating the second telephone call if thepredetermined condition is met, and refraining from initiating thesecond telephone call if the predetermined condition is not met. Invarious representative embodiments of the present invention, the atleast one characteristic may comprise a signal strength, an error rate,a signal to noise ratio, and an Eb/No measurement. In variousrepresentative embodiments of the present invention, the storedinformation may comprise a dialable telephone number, a directory number(DN), a temporary location directory number (TLDN), a mobileidentification number (MIN), an international mobile station identifier(IMSI), a temporary mobile station identifier (TMSI), and an electronicserial number (ESN). Yet another representative embodiment of thepresent invention may comprise notifying a user that a telephone call isabout to be re-established. In various representative embodiments of thepresent invention, the notifying may comprise an audible alert, avibratory alert, and a visual alert.

Additional aspects of the present invention may be found in a method ofautomatically re-establishing a telephone call after unintendeddisconnection. A representative embodiment of the present invention maycomprise originating a first telephone call via a wireless communicationnetwork, storing information identifying a destination of the firsttelephone call, detecting a failure of the first telephone call, andautomatically establishing a second telephone call to the destination ofthe first telephone call using the stored information. The wirelesscommunication network in a representative embodiment of the presentinvention may comprise a cellular communication network, and thedetecting may use at least one characteristic of a wirelesscommunication link. In various representative embodiments of the presentinvention, the at least one characteristic may comprise a signalstrength, an error rate, a signal to noise ratio, and an Eb/Nomeasurement. A representative embodiment in accordance with the presentinvention may comprise waiting a predetermined amount of time. Inaddition, the establishing in a representative embodiment of the presentinvention may comprise determining whether at least one characteristicof a wireless communication link meets a predetermined condition,initiating the second telephone call if the predetermined condition ismet, and refraining from initiating the second telephone call if thepredetermined condition is not met. In various representativeembodiments of the present invention, the at least one characteristicmay comprise a signal strength, an error rate, a signal to noise ratio,and an Eb/No measurement. In various embodiments in accordance with thepresent invention, the stored information may comprise a dialabletelephone number, a directory number (DN), a temporary locationdirectory number (TLDN), a mobile identification number (MIN), aninternational mobile station identifier (IMSI), a temporary mobilestation identifier (TMSI), and an electronic serial number (ESN). Arepresentative embodiment in accordance with the present invention mayalso comprise notifying a user that a telephone call is about to bere-established. In various representative embodiments of the presentinvention, the notifying may comprise an audible alert, a vibratoryalert, and a visual alert.

Further aspects of the present invention may be observed in a method ofautomatically re-establishing a telephone call after unintendeddisconnection. A representative embodiment in accordance with thepresent invention may comprise establishing a first telephone callbetween a first party and a second party, where at least one of thefirst party and the second party communicate via a wirelesscommunication network. Such an embodiment may also comprise storinginformation identifying the first party and the second party, detectinga failure of the first telephone call, and automatically establishing asecond telephone call between the first party and the second party usingthe stored information. The wireless communication network in arepresentative embodiment of the present invention may comprise acellular communication network. The detecting may use at least onecharacteristic of a wireless communication link. In variousrepresentative embodiments of the present invention, the at least onecharacteristic may comprise a signal strength, an error rate, a signalto noise ratio, and an Eb/No measurement. Some embodiments of thepresent invention may comprise waiting a predetermined amount of time.In addition, the establishing in a representative embodiment of thepresent invention may comprise determining whether at least onecharacteristic of a wireless communication link meets a predeterminedcondition, initiating the second telephone call if the predeterminedcondition is met, and refraining from initiating the second telephonecall if the predetermined condition is not met. In variousrepresentative embodiments of the present invention, the at least onecharacteristic may comprise a signal strength, an error rate, a signalto noise ratio, and an Eb/No measurement. The stored information invarious embodiments in accordance with the present invention maycomprise a dialable telephone number, a directory number (DN), atemporary location directory number (TLDN), a mobile identificationnumber (MIN), an international mobile station identifier (IMSI), atemporary mobile station identifier (TMSI), and an electronic serialnumber (ESN). A representative embodiment of the present invention maycomprise notifying a user that a telephone call is about to bere-established. In various representative embodiments of the presentinvention, the notifying may comprise an audible alert, a vibratoryalert, and a visual alert.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention may beappreciated from a review of the following detailed description of thepresent invention, along with the accompanying figures in which likereference numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary wireless communication network inaccordance with a representative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B illustrates an exemplary wireless communication network inaccordance with another representative embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 1C illustrates an exemplary communication network, that maycorrespond to the communication networks of FIG. 1A or 1B, in accordancewith a representative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a flowchart of an exemplary method of managing a wirelesstelephone call, in accordance with a representative embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2B is a detailed flowchart showing the progress of an exemplarywireless telephone call, in accordance with a representative embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of operating amobile handset, in accordance with a representative embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3B is a detailed flowchart illustrating an exemplary method ofoperating a mobile handset, in accordance with a representativeembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of operating awireless communication network, in accordance with a representativeembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4B is a detailed flowchart illustrating an exemplary method ofoperating a wireless communication network such as the wirelesscommunication network of FIG. 1C, in accordance with a representativeembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary wireless communication network 100 inaccordance with a representative embodiment of the present invention.The wireless communication network 100 of FIG. 1A comprises a phonenetwork 155 communicatively coupled via facility 145 to a phone 140capable of originating and/or receiving calls. The wirelesscommunication network 100 also comprises a wireless handset 120 capableof establishing communication via the phone network 155. As shown in theillustration, the wireless handset 120 may establish communication withthe phone 140 via a first connection 125. During the establishment ofthe 1^(st) connection 125, the wireless handset 120 in a representativeembodiment of the present invention may store in storage 130,information related to the arrangement of the call. In anotherrepresentative embodiment of the present invention, the phone network155 may store information related to the arrangement of the call instorage 135. At some point after establishment of the call, the 1^(st)connection 125 supporting communication between wireless handset 120 andphone 140 may be lost. In a representative embodiment of the presentinvention, the wireless handset 120 may automatically re-establish thecommunication with the phone 140 via a 2^(nd) connection 127 and phonenetwork 155 using the call-related information in storage 130. Inanother representative embodiment in accordance with the presentinvention, the phone network 155 may automatically re-establishcommunication between the wireless handset 120 and the phone 140 usingcall-related information from storage 135. Although the phone 140 mayappear to have a wired connection to phone network 155, an embodiment ofthe present invention is not limited in this regard. The phone 140 maybe connected to the phone network 155 using, for example, a wireless,cellular, wired, packet, optical, or other communication link.

FIG. 1B illustrates an exemplary wireless communication network 100 inaccordance with another representative embodiment of the presentinvention. The wireless communication network 100 of FIG. 1B comprises awireless phone network 155 capable of establishing communication betweena wireless handset 120 of a first party and a wireless handset 140 of asecond party. As shown in the illustration, the wireless handsets120,140 may establish mutual communication via first connections125,145. During the establishment of the 1^(st) connection 125, thewireless handset 120 in a representative embodiment of the presentinvention may store information related to the arrangement of the callin storage 130, and the wireless handset 140 may store informationrelated to the arrangement of the call in storage 150. In anotherrepresentative embodiment of the present invention, the wireless phonenetwork 155 may store information related to the arrangement of the callin storage 135. At some point after establishment of the call, either orboth of 1^(st) connections 125,145 supporting communication between thewireless handsets 120,140 may be lost. In a representative embodiment ofthe present invention, either of the wireless handsets 120,140 mayautomatically re-establish communication with the other via the 2^(nd)connections 127,147 using the call-related information in the storagecomponents 130,150. In another representative embodiment in accordancewith the present invention, the wireless phone network 155 mayautomatically re-establish communication between the wireless handsets120,140 using call-related information from storage 135. In yet anotherrepresentative embodiment of the present invention, the wirelesshandsets 120,140 may automatically and cooperatively re-establishcommunication.

FIG. 1C provides a detailed illustration of an exemplary communicationnetwork 100, that may correspond to the communication network 100 ofFIG. 1A or FIG. 1B, in accordance with a representative embodiment ofthe present invention. The wireless communication network 100 of FIG. 1Ccomprises wireless base stations 110, 120, 130, 140 in communicationwith a mobile switching center (MSC) 150 of a first wireless serviceprovider via communication links 115, 125, 135, 145, respectively, and awireless base station 160 in communication with a MSC 170 of a secondwireless service provider via communication link 163. The wirelesscommunication network 100 also comprises mobile handsets 175, 180, 185,and 190. The wireless network 100 may comply with one or more airinterface standards such as, for example, EA/TIA-553 analog,IS-95/IS-2000 code division multiple access (CDMA), IS-136 time divisionmultiple access (TDMA), and global system for mobile communications(GSM) standards, to name only a few. Each of the wireless base stations110, 120, 130, 140 and 160, and mobile handsets 175, 180, 185, 190 maybe equipped with receivers and transmitters capable of functioning usingone or more of the current or future air interface standards, and maycommunicate information over wireless network 100 using, for example, acircuit switched or packet switched connection mechanism. For purposesof explanation, the areas of coverage of each of the base stations 110,120, 130, 140, 160 are represented in FIG. 1C by the coverage regions111, 121, 131, 141, 161, respectively. The coverage regions 111, 121,131, 141 and 161 overlap. In the overlapping areas, service may beprovided by more than one of the base stations 110, 120, 130, 140, 160.Although the wireless base stations 110, 120, 130, 140, 160 are shown asconnected to two MSCs 150, 170, the wireless network 100 may comprise agreater or lesser number of MSCs and base stations without departingfrom the scope or spirit of the present invention. Subsets of wirelessbase stations such as the wireless base stations 110, 120, 130, 140, 160within a wireless network such as the wireless network 100 may each beassociated with one of a number of MSCs such as MSCs 150, 170, whereeach MSC may be operated by a different provider of wireless service.

The illustration of FIG. 1C also shows station set equipment 105 and107, that may also engage in communication with the mobile handsets 175,180, 185, 190 via the wired network 165. In a representative embodimentof the present invention, wired network 165 may be, for example, acircuit switched or packet switched (e.g., a voice over Internetprotocol (VoIP)) network. Although the illustration of FIG. 1C shows aparticular complement of base stations, mobile handsets, mobileswitching centers, and wired network infrastructure, the illustration ofFIG. 1C is for purposes of explanation, and does not representlimitations of the present invention.

In various representative embodiments of the present invention thewireless network 100 may be, for example, an EIA/TIA-553 analog network,an IS-95/IS-2000 or similar code division multiple access (CDMA)network, an IS-136-based time division multiple access (TDMA) network, aglobal system for mobile communication (GSM) network, a combination ofthe above, or any similar wireless voice and/or data network. In arepresentative embodiment of the representative embodiment of thepresent invention, a mobile handset such as the mobile handsets 175,180, 185, 190 of FIG. 1C may originate and/or accept calls to/fromanother of the mobile handsets 175, 180, 185, 190 served by the wirelessnetwork 100, or station set equipment such as the station sets 105 and107 connected to wired network 165. In a representative embodiment ofthe present invention, information related to the establishment of thecall may be stored, for example, in the mobile handset 175, 180, 185,190 (storage not shown for reasons of clarity), at a serving MSC 150,170, by the wired network 165, or, for example, in storage 152associated with MSC 150 or in storage 166 associated with wired network165, in a fashion similar to that discussed above with respect to thewireless communication networks 100 of FIGS. 1A and 1B.

Various sources of radio frequency (RF) impairment, disruptions, and/orcongestion of the wireless or wired network may cause a call in awireless network such as the wireless network 100 to be dropped. Forexample, the mobile handset 190 of FIG. 1C may experience a loss ofsignal from the serving base station 110 due to “shadowing” of themobile handset 190 as it passes behind one or more buildings 112, 113.This is illustrated in FIG. 1C when the mobile handset 190 travels alongthe route indicated by path 191. The user of the mobile handset 190 mayfind that a series of obstacles such as, for example, the buildings 112,113 of FIG. 1C cause large changes in signal strength or quality. Amobile handset may also be operating along the boundary of two or morebase stations, such as the arrangement of the mobile handset 175 and thebase stations 110, 120. In such a situation, the signals of the mobilehandset 175 may be repeatedly acquired and lost by the base stations110, 120 of FIG. 1C as the handset moves along a path such as path 176.In yet another situation, mobile handsets such as, for example, themobile handsets 180, 185 may be operating in a marginal RF environmentfor a service provider, such as the “dead spot” amidst the base stations110, 120, 130, 140, that is experienced by the mobile handset 180, orthe service area fringe of the base station 130 seen by the mobilehandset 185. Both of these examples of impaired RF coverage occur inareas served by base stations connected to the MSC 150. Some of thecoverage regions 111, 121, 131, 141 of base stations 110, 120, 130, 140are also contained within the coverage area 161 of the base station 160served by MSC 170. Depending upon arrangements between the serviceproviders of the MSCs 150, 170, a subscriber of one service provider mayreceive service through either the MSC 150 of the first wireless serviceprovider or the MSC 170 of the second wireless service provider, orboth.

The mobile handset of a wireless subscriber may experience a series oflarge decreases and increases in the strength of signal available, or inthe quality of the signal, depending upon the motion of the wirelesssubscriber, the positions of the serving base station(s), the locationof any obstructions, and the number of wireless subscribers currentlyusing the wireless network 100. The wireless subscriber call may be“dropped” or “lost” each time that a mobile handset or the serving basestation(s) determine that the wireless communication link is ofinsufficient quality or strength. The terms “lost”, “loss”, and“dropping” are used in this application to refer to the disconnection ofa call that is not a result of a request by a party to the call. Theloss/dropping of a call may result, for example, from impairments in thewireless link between the mobile handset and the serving basestation(s), as described above, or from problems within theinfrastructure of a wireless network such as wireless network 100, orwithin a wired network such as, for example, wired network 160, that isa part of the call path. A wireless subscriber in such a situation maymake repeated attempts to re-establish the call, only to have the calldrop again. In a representative embodiment of the present invention, adropped or lost call may be automatically re-established, without theneed for the wireless subscriber to be actively involved. This may beaccomplished using the call-related information stored by the mobilehandset 175, 180, 185, 190, the serving MSC 150, 170, or by the wirednetwork 165.

FIG. 2A is a flowchart of an exemplary method of managing a wirelesstelephone call, in accordance with a representative embodiment of thepresent invention. The method illustrated in FIG. 2A begins when awireless call is received by a wireless handset such as, for example,one of the mobile handsets 175, 180, 185, 190 of FIG. 1C (210). Thewireless handset may then stored call-related information (212). At somepoint in the call, the wireless handset detects that the connection withthe far-end party has failed, and the call has been lost (214). Thewireless handset may then use the stored call-related information toautomatically re-establish communication with the far-end party via asecond wireless connection (216).

FIG. 2B is a detailed flowchart showing the progress of an exemplarywireless telephone call, in accordance with a representative embodimentof the present invention. The wireless telephone call begins when awireless call is first established (block 210). At that time, detailsabout the call such as, for example, information identifying the networklocations of the called and calling parties are stored. The call thenproceeds (block 212). During the wireless telephone call, the call ismonitored to check whether the call is experiencing impairments (block214). If the call is proceeding satisfactorily, a check is made as towhether the user has chosen to end the call (block 216). If no suchrequest from the user has been received, the call continues (block 212),and the call status continues to be monitored. If the user has requestedto end the call, the call ends (block 228).

If it is determined that the call is experiencing impairments thatthreaten the continued existence of the call, an attempt is made tomaintain the call (block 218). This may involve, for example, handingthe call off to another base station. A check is made as to whether callhas been lost/dropped (block 220). If the call has been dropped, a checkis made as to whether call recovery should be attempted (block 222). Iffor some reason call recovery should not be attempted, the call ends(block 228). If, however, call recovery should be attempted, thewireless user is notified that the call will be re-established (block224), and the call is re-established using the stored call-relatedinformation (block 226). Once the call is re-established, the callproceeds normally (block 216).

In a representative embodiment of the present invention, the actionsillustrated by FIG. 2B may be performed by a mobile handset such as, forexample, one of the mobile handsets 175, 180, 185, 190 of FIG. 1C. Insuch an embodiment, the mobile handset may perform call recovery byautomatically re-establishing a lost/dropped call when the mobilehandset determines that the signals from one or more base stations suchas, for example, the base stations 110, 120, 130, 140 and 160 of FIG.1C, are of sufficient quality to re-establish and/or maintain aconnection. In a representative embodiment of the present invention, themobile handset may notify the wireless subscriber that the mobilehandset is about to re-establish the lost/dropped call. The notificationmay be provided, for example, in the form of an audible alert, avibratory alert, or a visual alert. Such notice may give the subscriberan opportunity to stop the placement of the new call, and may beimportant, for example, to halt re-establishment when, for example, theneed for the call no longer exists, too much time has elapsed, or thecost of the new call is not acceptable (e.g., for call re-establishmentwhile roaming).

A representative embodiment of the present invention may inhibitre-establishment of the call, based on one or more parameters set by thesubscriber. For example, the subscriber may not want callsre-established, or may wish to re-establish a call only when the callwill be placed using the service provider of the subscriber (anon-roaming call), when not more than a subscriber programmed amount oftime has elapsed since the call was dropped, when not more that apredetermined number of attempts have been made to re-establish the lostconnection, when a certain air interface technology will be used, etc.

A representative embodiment of the present invention may also determinewhether to re-establish a lost call based upon the identity of thecalled or calling party. A subscriber may be permitted to identify thetelephone numbers of the parties for which call recovery should beattempted. For example, a parent may identify the telephone numbers ofthe mobile handsets of their children as being those for whichre-establishment should be attempted when a call is lost/dropped. Ahealth care professional such as a doctor may designate that any numberfrom a group of numbers having a particular prefix, such as that of ahospital, office, or treatment facility, should initiate an automaticattempt to re-establish a lost/dropped call. Using a combination of theparameters described above, a representative embodiment of the presentinvention may provide the ability to tailor the initiation of callrecovery to the significance of the call.

A representative embodiment of the present invention may permit asubscriber using a “multi-mode” handset to program a different set ofparameter values for each mode of the mobile handset. This may be usedfor the management of the automatic re-establishment of dropped/lostcalls based upon the air interface standard in use for the lost call, orthe available alternates for call re-establishment. The situations inwhich a mobile handset experiences lost/dropped calls may depend uponthe technology used in the wireless network. For example, a mobilehandset in a wireless network in which “hard” handoffs (i.e., those inwhich the RF carrier frequency changes) occur may experience a greaternumber of dropped calls in particular situations than if “soft” handoffs(i.e., those in which a simultaneous connection with two or more basestations is arranged) are supported). For this reason, a representativeembodiment of the present invention may permit a wireless subscriber toset parameter(s) stipulating the type of air interface to be used tore-establish calls. This may also include the use of alternate serviceproviders, where more than one service provider is available, such asthe arrangement in the illustration of FIG. 1C.

A representative embodiment of the present invention may re-establishboth mobile originated and mobile terminated calls that arelost/dropped. At the time a call is placed, the wireless subscribernormally provides information identifying the destination or calledparty. This is generally in the form of a dialable telephone number, butin various representative embodiments of the present inventioninformation used to identify the called party may also be in the form ofa temporary location directory number (TLDN), a mobile identificationnumber (MIN), an international mobile station identifier (IMSI), atemporary mobile station identifier (TMSI), an electronic serial number(ESN), or the like. The mobile handset transmits the identity of thedestination or called party to the serving base station(s) such as, forexample, the base stations 110, 120, 130, 140, 160 shown in FIG. 1C. Theserving base station, then forwards the identifying information to anMSC such as, for example, the MSC 150 of FIG. 1C, for analysis andestablishment of the path through the serving wireless or wired networkto the destination or called party. A copy of the destination address oridentifier sent by the mobile handset is typically stored in the mobilehandset, and is frequently used to provide a called party numberdisplay, and features such as “redial”. In a representative embodimentof the present invention, the mobile handset may use the storedinformation identifying the destination of the call to re-establish alost call to another subscriber of the wireless network, or to asubscriber accessible via an interconnected wired network such as, forexample, the wired network 160 of FIG. 1C.

A representative embodiment of the present invention may also aid thewireless subscriber by re-establishing incoming or “mobile terminated”calls that are lost. During the establishment of a mobile terminatedcall, the mobile handset typically receives information identifying theparty originating the call. This information may be referred to as the“calling party identification” or “caller ID”, and is typically thedialable telephone number of the calling party. In variousrepresentative embodiments of the present invention it may also comprisea temporary location directory number (TLDN), a mobile identificationnumber (MIN), an international mobile station identifier (IMSI), atemporary mobile station identifier (TMSI), an electronic serial number(ESN), or the like. In general, a mobile handset stores the informationidentifying the calling party for later use in, for example, a call log.In a representative embodiment of the present invention, the storedinformation identifying the calling party may be used by the mobilehandset to automatically place a mobile originated call back to thecalling party, following the loss of the call.

In a representative embodiment of the present invention, the mobilehandset may initiate a new call when one or more characteristics of thewireless network service meet predetermined measures. For example, thequality or strength of the wireless network signals may be measured interms of signal strength, an error rate, a signal to noise ratio, or anEb/No measurement. Other information that may be used to determinewhether network conditions are suitable for re-establishment of the callincludes, for example, the nature or urgency of the call (e.g.,according to the call destination), the geographic location of themobile handset relative to wireless network elements or past history ofcall behavior, and similar factors.

In yet another representative embodiment of the present invention, oneor more of the mobile handsets on a call may, if so enabled, send anindication to the mobile handset(s) of the other party/parties, or to awireless network entity, that the sending mobile handset is capable ofand/or enabled to re-establish lost/dropped calls. This permits thosemobile handset(s) with adequate wireless service to provide a localnotification that another party to the call will re-establish the callwhen able. If more than one of the mobile handsets on a call is capableand enabled to act in re-establishing the call, the capable and enabledmobile handsets may negotiate the task of call re-establishment. Thisaspect of the present invention allows a user to avoid needlesslyredialing when he/she is be unable to re-connect, and helps to avoid thefrequent “crossing messages” that occur when parties are attempting todial each other. The indication of the capability to re-establish calls,and the negotiation of the mobile handset to be responsible for callre-establishment may be exchanged using, for example, a messagingmechanism like the short message service provided by many existing airinterface protocols, or by dedicated wireless network messages designedfor that purpose.

FIG. 3A is a flowchart of an exemplary method of managing a wirelesstelephone call, in accordance with a representative embodiment of thepresent invention. The method illustrated in FIG. 3A begins when awireless call is originated by a wireless handset such as, for example,one of the mobile handsets 175, 180, 185, 190 of FIG. 1C (310). Thewireless handset may then stored call-related information (312). At somepoint in the call, the wireless handset detects that the connection withthe far-end party has failed, and the call has been lost (314). Thewireless handset may then use the stored call-related information toautomatically re-establish communication with the far-end party via asecond wireless connection (316).

FIG. 3B is a detailed flowchart illustrating an exemplary method ofoperating a mobile handset, in accordance with a representativeembodiment of the present invention. The following example of automaticcall recovery by a wireless mobile handset is offered as a means ofexplanation and clarification, and is not necessarily representative ofany limitations of the present invention. With reference to the elementsof the illustration of FIG. 1C, the method begins when a wirelessnetwork subscriber such as, for example, a subscriber using one ofmobile handsets 175, 180, 185, 190 places a call to another subscriberof wireless network 100, or to a subscriber of the wired network 165(block 310). Although this example is in terms of a mobile originatedcall, a similar approach may be used for mobile terminated calls.Following entry of the destination telephone, the wireless subscriberplaces the call (i.e., presses the “SEND” key), and the mobile handsetsaves the identity of the called party and forwards information aboutthe identity of both the called and calling parties to an MSC such as,for example, the MSCs 150, 170 of the wireless network 100 (block 312).The MSC then establishes a voice/data call connection with the calledparty, either within the wireless network 100, or a wired network suchas, for example, wired network 165 (block 314). The call then proceedsin the typical fashion (block 316).

During the wireless call, checks are made to detect the presence ofimpairments that may affect the viability of the call (block 318). If nocall impacting impairments occurred, a check is made whether the user ofthe mobile handset or the wireless network has requested that the callbe ended (block 320). If such a request has been made, the call ends(block 334). If no such request has been made, the call continues (block316). If call impacting impairments have occurred, an attempt tomaintain the call may be made (block 322). If the call is successfullymaintained (block 324), the call proceeds (block 320).

If, however, the call is lost/dropped, a check is made whether callrecovery should be attempted by the mobile handset (block 326). If, forsome reason, the mobile handset is not enabled to attempt call recovery,the call ends (block 334). If the mobile handset is enabled to performcall recovery, the mobile handset checks whether call recovery ispossible based, for example, upon wireless network conditions (block328). If not, the mobile handset keeps checking whether call recovery ispossible (block 328). If call recovery is possible, the mobile handsetnotifies the user that an attempt will be made to re-establish theconnection to the called party, using the information stored at the timethat the call was originally placed (block 330). The mobile handset thenre-establishes the call (block 332). A representative embodiment of thepresent invention may be used in cases where both the origin and thedestination of the lost call are within a wireless network, and wherethe called party exists within a wired network, such as the wirednetwork 160 of FIG. 1C.

In another representative embodiment of the present invention, theautomatic re-establishment may be performed by a wireless network entitysuch as, for example, a mobile switching center such as the MSCs 150,170 of FIG. 1C. When a mobile originated call is established, the mobilehandset transmits information concerning both its own identity and theidentity of the call destination to a base station such as, for example,one or more of base stations 110, 120, 130, 140, 160. Informationcontaining the mobile identity and the identity of the destination maythen be forwarded by the serving base stations 110, 120, 130, 140, 160to the serving MSC 150, 170 for use in routing and billing the call. Theserving MSC 150, 170 therefore, has knowledge of the identities of boththe origin and the destination of the call. If the call should belost/dropped, the MSC 150, 170 may examine a subscriber database locatedat the MSC 150, 170, or at a remote location (e.g., a home locationregister (HLR) or similar entity, not shown) to determine whether eitherof the origin and destination parties to the call have requested that alost call be automatically re-established. The MSC 150, 170 may thenattempt to re-establish the lost call. In a manner similar to theautomatic call re-establishment described above with respect to a mobilehandset, a representative embodiment of the present invention may permita subscriber to establish a set of parameters to govern the conditionsunder which a lost call may be re-established by a wireless networkentity such as, for example, the MSCs 150, 170 of FIG. 1C.

FIG. 4A is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of operating acommunication network such as the wireless communication network 100 ofFIG. 1C, in accordance with a representative embodiment of the presentinvention. The method illustrated in FIG. 4A begins when a call isestablished between calling and called parties by a communicationnetwork such as, for example, the phone network 155 of FIG. 1A, or thewireless communication network 100 of FIG. 1C (410). The network maythen store call-related information (412). At some point in the call,the network may detect that the call connection between the near andfar-end parties has failed, and the call connection has been lost (414).The network may then use the stored call-related information toautomatically re-establish communication between the near and far-endparties via a second call connection (416).

FIG. 4B is a detailed flowchart illustrating an exemplary method ofoperating a wireless communication network such as the wirelesscommunication network 100 of FIG. 1C, in accordance with arepresentative embodiment of the present invention. The followingexample of automatic call recovery by a wireless communication networkis offered as a means of explanation and clarification, and is notnecessarily representative of any limitations of the present invention.With reference to the elements of the illustration of FIG. 1C, themethod begins when a wireless or wired network subscriber such as, forexample, a subscriber using one of mobile handsets 175, 180, 185, 190,or a user of station set equipment 105 and 107 in wired network 165places a call to a subscriber of wireless communication network 100(block 410). Although this example is in terms of a mobile terminatedcall, a similar network-based call recovery approach may be used formobile originated calls. Following dialing of the destination telephonenumber by the calling party, the wireless communication network 100receives and saves call-related information identifying the calling andcalled parties (block 412). An MSC such as the MSCs 150, 170 thenestablishes a voice/data call between the calling subscriber of thewired or wireless communication network and the called wireless networksubscriber (block 414). The call then proceeds in the typical fashion(block 416).

During the call, checks are made to detect the presence of impairmentsthat may affect the viability of the call (block 418). If no callimpacting impairments occurred, a check is made whether the a party tothe call (i.e., the user of the called mobile handset or the callingwired or wireless communication network subscriber) has requested thatthe call be ended (block 420). If such a request has been made, the callends (block 434). If no such request has been made, the call continues(block 416). If call impacting impairments have occurred, an attempt tomaintain the call may be made (block 422). If the call is successfullymaintained (block 424), the call proceeds (block 420).

If, however, the call is lost/dropped, a check is made whether callrecovery should be attempted for the wireless subscriber (block 426). Ifcall recovery is not enabled, the call ends (block 434). If callrecovery is enabled, the wireless communication network checks whethercall recovery is currently possible based, for example, upon wirelessnetwork conditions (block 428). If a connection to the called wirelesssubscriber cannot currently be re-established, the wirelesscommunication network keeps checking whether call recovery is possible(block 428). If call recovery is possible, the wireless communicationnetwork notifies one or more of the parties to the call that an attemptwill be made to re-establish the lost call connection, using thecall-related information stored at the time that the call was originallyestablished (block 430). The wireless communication network thenre-establishes the call (block 432).

As described above, the terms “lost”, “loss”, and “dropped” are usedherein to refer to the disconnection of a call that is not a result of arequest by a party to the call. The loss of a wireless call may result,for example, from impairments in the wireless link between the mobilehandset and the serving base station(s), from problems within theinfrastructure of a wireless network such as, for example, wirelesscommunication network 100, or from problems within a wired network thatis a part of the call path such as, for example, wired network 165. Acall within a wireless communication network may be lost due to causesrelated to the wireless communication network operation such as, forexample, a deterioration of the RF environment as described above, afailure of the handoff of a call from one base station to another, and awireless network equipment failure, to name only a few. The MSC servingthe mobile handset receives information from the base stations(s)serving the mobile handset of the wireless subscriber, or through othercommunications within wireless network, that the call has been lost. Insuch a case, because no indication of a subscriber request fordisconnection is received, the serving MSC may assume that thedisconnection of the call is unintentional.

In yet other embodiments of the present invention, the re-establishmentof the lost/dropped call may be performed by a combination of actions ofthe wireless communication network, and the mobile handset of thewireless subscriber. In one such embodiment of the present invention,the wireless communication network may request from the mobile handsetinformation needed to re-establish the call. The wireless communicationnetwork may then re-establish the lost connection. In anotherrepresentative embodiment of the present invention, the mobile handsetmay request from the wireless network information needed to re-establishthe call. This may be particularly important when the actual networklocation of the called party is not the network location used at thetime the call was originally placed such as, for example, when calls areforwarded, or a call is completed or transferred as sometimes happenswith calls to directory assistance.

A representative embodiment in accordance with the present invention mayattempt to maintain an impaired call in a number of ways. For example, achange of service providers may be made. An example of a situation wherethis may help maintain a failing call may be seen in the illustration ofFIG. 1C. In FIG. 1C, the mobile handsets 180, 185, 190 are shown at theborder or outside of the main coverage areas 111, 121, 131, 141 (i.e.,fringe areas or areas where RF coverage is marginal) available from thebase stations 110, 120, 130, 140 connected to MSC 150 of the firstwireless service provider. In a representative embodiment of the presentinvention, a change of service providers from the first service providerwith the base stations 110, 120, 130, 140, to the second serviceprovider with base station 160 having larger coverage area 161, maypermit the wireless connection with the mobile handsets 180, 185, 190 tobe maintained. A representative embodiment of the present invention maymaintain the call by performing a change of air interface technologies.For example, if the call was originally established using aIS-95/IS-2000 or similar CDMA service provider, an attempt may be madeto maintain the connection by switching to, for example, the basestations of an IS-136 TDMA, an analog, or a GSM service provider. Arepresentative embodiment of the present invention may also use theflexible nature of multi-mode or software-defined radios at basestations such as, for example, the base stations 110, 120, 130, 140, 160of FIG. 1C, or within mobile handsets such as, for example, the mobilehandsets 175, 180, 185, 190 of FIG. 1C to determine the availability ofalternate wireless communication networks, or to reconfigure theinfrastructure to provide air interface support in an attempt tosupplant the existing, impaired wireless connection.

A representative embodiment of the present invention may also attempt tomaintain an impaired wireless call by extending the period of time afterwhich the call is considered to be lost. Timers used by the mobilehandset or the base stations may be extended depending upon, forexample, the enablement of the call recovery capability, the geographiclocation of the mobile handset, call loss history information for thecoverage area that is maintained by either the mobile handset or thewireless communication network, or other factors.

A representative embodiment of the present invention may record andpreserve comprehensive call-related information, to allow there-establishment of call connections in a wide variety of callscenarios. This call-related information may include, for example, theinformation identifying the actual communication network and networkendpoint of each leg of a call, the Internet protocol (IP) addresses ofcalled and/or calling parties, the time of the loss of the call, thegeographic location of the affected mobile handset at the time of thecall loss, the air interface technology in use, the capabilities of themobile handset, the identity and capabilities of alternate wirelesscommunication networks in the area where the wireless call was lost, andthe speed and direction of the mobile handset, and similar parameters.The availability of such information permits a representative embodimentof the present invention to more effectively re-establish the lost callconnection.

In a representative embodiment of the present invention, thedetermination of whether a call recovery is possible may depend upon anumber of factors including, for example, the length of time since theoriginal call was lost, the air interface capabilities of the mobilehandset, the number of times the call has previously beenre-established, the preferred air interface technology of the wirelesssubscriber, and other factors. One or more of the factors that determinewhether a call recovery should be attempted may be user definable, andthe set of factors used to determine whether a call recovery isattempted may depend upon the air interface technology used for the lostcall.

Accordingly, the present invention may be realized in hardware,software, or a combination of hardware and software. The presentinvention may be realized in a centralized fashion in at least onecomputer system, or in a distributed fashion where different elementsare spread across several interconnected computer systems. Any kind ofcomputer system or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methodsdescribed herein is suited. A typical combination of hardware andsoftware may be a general-purpose computer system with a computerprogram that, when being loaded and executed, controls the computersystem such that it carries out the methods described herein.

The present invention may also be embedded in a computer programproduct, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation ofthe methods described herein, and which when loaded in a computer systemis able to carry out these methods. Computer program in the presentcontext means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of aset of instructions intended to cause a system having an informationprocessing capability to perform a particular function either directlyor after either or both of the following: a) conversion to anotherlanguage, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different materialform.

While the present invention has been described with reference to certainembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. In addition, manymodifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material tothe teachings of the present invention without departing from its scope.Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited tothe particular embodiment disclosed, but that the present invention willinclude all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A system for operating a wireless mobile device that automaticallyre-establishes a telephone call after unintended disconnection, thesystem comprising: at least one processor operable to wirelesslyreceive, via a communication network, a first telephone call havingassociated information identifying a calling party; said at least oneprocessor operable to determine whether the calling party or thewireless mobile device is to establish a second telephone call betweenthe calling party and the wireless mobile device upon failure of thefirst telephone call; said at least one processor operable to store theinformation identifying the calling party of the first telephone call;said at least one processor operable to detect a failure of the firsttelephone call; said at least one processor operable to determinewhether call re-establishment should be attempted, based upon one ormore pre-determined factors; and said at least one processor operable toautomatically establish the second telephone call from the wirelessmobile device to the calling party of the first telephone call using thestored information, if it is determined that the wireless mobile deviceis to establish the second telephone call upon failure of the firsttelephone call, wherein determining whether the calling party is toestablish a second telephone call between the calling party and thewireless mobile device upon failure of the first telephone callcomprises: ascertaining whether the calling party is capable ofautomatically establishing the second telephone call upon failure of thefirst telephone call; and negotiating to determine whether the wirelessmobile device or the calling party is to establish the second telephonecall, if the calling party is capable of automatically establishing thesecond telephone call upon failure of the first telephone call.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication network comprisesa cellular communication network.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein thedetecting uses at least one characteristic of a wireless communicationlink.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one characteristiccomprises a signal strength.
 5. The system of claim 3, wherein the atleast one characteristic comprises an error rate.
 6. The system of claim3, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a signal-to-noiseratio (SNR).
 7. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least onecharacteristic comprises an Eb/No measurement.
 8. The system of claim 1,wherein said at least one processor is operable to wait a predeterminedamount of time.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the establishingcomprises: determining whether at least one characteristic of a wirelesscommunication link meets a predetermined condition; initiating thesecond telephone call, if the predetermined condition is met; andrefraining from initiating the second telephone call, if thepredetermined condition is not met.
 10. The system of claim 9, whereinthe at least one characteristic comprises a signal strength.
 11. Thesystem of claim 9, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises anerror rate.
 12. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least onecharacteristic comprises a signal-to-noise ratio.
 13. The system ofclaim 9, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises an Eb/Nomeasurement.
 14. The system of claim 1, wherein the stored informationcomprises a dialable telephone number.
 15. The system of claim 1,wherein the stored information comprises a directory number (DN). 16.The system of claim 1, wherein the stored information comprises atemporary location directory number (TLDN).
 17. The system of claim 1,wherein the stored information comprises a mobile identification number(MIN).
 18. The system of claim 1, wherein the stored informationcomprises an international mobile station identifier (IMSI).
 19. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the stored information comprises a temporarymobile station identifier (TMSI).
 20. The system of claim 1, wherein thestored information comprises an electronic serial number (ESN).
 21. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein said at least one processor is operable tonotify a user that a telephone call is about to be re-established. 22.The system of claim 21, wherein the notifying comprises an audiblealert.
 23. The system of claim 21, wherein the notifying comprises avibratory alert.
 24. The system of claim 21, wherein the notifyingcomprises a visual alert.
 25. A system of operating a wireless mobiledevice that automatically re-establishes a telephone call afterunintended disconnection, the system comprising: at least one processoroperable to wirelessly originate, via a communication network, a firsttelephone call having associated information identifying a called party;said at least one processor operable to determine whether the calledparty or the wireless mobile device is to establish a second telephonecall between the called party and the wireless mobile device uponfailure of the first telephone call; said at least one processoroperable to store the information identifying the called party of thefirst telephone call; said at least one processor operable to detect afailure of the first telephone call; said at least one processoroperable to determine whether call re-establishment should be attempted,based upon one or more pre-determined factors; and said at least oneprocessor operable to automatically establish the second telephone callfrom the wireless mobile device to the called party of the firsttelephone call using the stored information, if it is determined thatthe wireless mobile device is to establish the second telephone callupon failure of the first telephone call, wherein determining whetherthe called party is to establish a second telephone call between thecalled party and the wireless mobile device upon failure of the firsttelephone call comprises: ascertaining whether the called party iscapable of automatically establishing the second telephone call uponfailure of the first telephone call; and negotiating to determinewhether the wireless mobile device or the called party is to establishthe second telephone call, if the calling party is capable ofautomatically establishing the second telephone call upon failure of thefirst telephone call.
 26. The system of claim 25, wherein the wirelesscommunication network comprises a cellular communication network. 27.The system of claim 25, wherein the detecting uses at least onecharacteristic of a wireless communication link.
 28. The system of claim27, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a signal strength.29. The system of claim 27, wherein the at least one characteristiccomprises an error rate.
 30. The system of claim 27, wherein the atleast one characteristic comprises a signal-to-noise ratio.
 31. Thesystem of claim 27, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises anEb/No measurement.
 32. The system of claim 25, wherein said at least oneprocessor is operable to wait a predetermined amount of time.
 33. Thesystem of claim 25, wherein the establishing comprises: determiningwhether at least one characteristic of a wireless communication linkmeets a predetermined condition; initiating the second telephone call,if the predetermined condition is met; and refraining from initiatingthe second telephone call, if the predetermined condition is not met.34. The system of claim 33, wherein the at least one characteristiccomprises a signal strength.
 35. The system of claim 33, wherein the atleast one characteristic comprises an error rate.
 36. The system ofclaim 33, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises asignal-to-noise ratio.
 37. The system of claim 33, wherein the at leastone characteristic comprises an Eb/No measurement.
 38. The system ofclaim 25, wherein the stored information comprises a dialable telephonenumber.
 39. The system of claim 25, wherein the stored informationcomprises a directory number (DN).
 40. The system of claim 25, whereinthe stored information comprises a temporary location directory number(TLDN).
 41. The system of claim 25, wherein the stored informationcomprises a mobile identification number (MIN).
 42. The system of claim25, wherein the stored information comprises an international mobilestation identifier (IMSI).
 43. The system of claim 25, wherein thestored information comprises a temporary mobile station identifier(TMSI).
 44. The system of claim 25, wherein the stored informationcomprises an electronic serial number (ESN).
 45. The system of claim 25,wherein said at least one processor is operable to notify a user that atelephone call is about to be re-established.
 46. The system of claim45, wherein the notifying comprises an audible alert.
 47. The system ofclaim 45, wherein the notifying comprises a vibratory alert.
 48. Thesystem of claim 45, wherein the notifying comprises a visual alert. 49.A system of automatically re-establishing a telephone call afterunintended disconnection, the system comprising: at least one processoroperable to establish a first telephone call between a first partyhaving associated information identifying the first party and a secondparty having associated information identifying the second party, one orboth of the first party and/or the second party communicating wirelesslyvia a communication network; said at least one processor operable tostore the information identifying the first party and the second party;said at least one processor operable to detect a failure of the firsttelephone call; said at least one processor operable to ascertainwhether one or both of the first party and/or the second party haverequested that a second telephone call be established between the firstparty and the second party by the communication network in the event ofthe failure of the first telephone call; said at least one processoroperable to determine whether call re-establishment should be attempted,based upon one or more pre-determined factors; and said at least oneprocessor operable to automatically establish the second telephone callbetween the first party and the second party, using the storedinformation, if it is determined that one or both of the first partyand/or the second party have requested that a lost call be automaticallyre-established, wherein ascertaining whether one or both of the firstparty and/or the second party have requested that a second telephonecall be established between the first party and the second party by thecommunication network in the event of the failure of the first telephonecall comprises examining a subscriber database to determine whether oneor both of the first party and the second party have requested that alost call be automatically re-established.
 50. The system of claim 49,wherein the wireless communication network comprises a cellularcommunication network.
 51. The system of claim 49, wherein the detectinguses at least one characteristic of a wireless communication link. 52.The system of claim 51, wherein the at least one characteristiccomprises a signal strength.
 53. The system of claim 51, wherein the atleast one characteristic comprises an error rate.
 54. The system ofclaim 51, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises asignal-to-noise ratio.
 55. The system of claim 51, wherein the at leastone characteristic comprises an Eb/No measurement.
 56. The system ofclaim 49, wherein said at least one processor is operable to wait apredetermined amount of time.
 57. The system of claim 49, wherein theestablishing comprises: determining whether at least one characteristicof a wireless communication link meets a predetermined condition;initiating the second telephone call, if the predetermined condition ismet; and refraining from initiating the second telephone call, if thepredetermined condition is not met.
 58. The system of claim 57, whereinthe at least one characteristic comprises a signal strength.
 59. Thesystem of claim 57, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises anerror rate.
 60. The system of claim 57, wherein the at least onecharacteristic comprises a signal-to-noise ratio.
 61. The system ofclaim 57, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises an Eb/Nomeasurement.
 62. The system of claim 49, wherein the stored informationcomprises a dialable telephone number.
 63. The system of claim 49,wherein the stored information comprises a directory number (DN). 64.The system of claim 49, wherein the stored information comprises atemporary location directory number (TLDN).
 65. The system of claim 49,wherein the stored information comprises a mobile identification number(MIN).
 66. The system of claim 49, wherein the stored informationcomprises an international mobile station identifier (IMSI).
 67. Thesystem of claim 49, wherein the stored information comprises a temporarymobile station identifier (TMSI).
 68. The system of claim 49, whereinthe stored information comprises an electronic serial number (ESN). 69.The system of claim 49, wherein said at least one processor is operableto notify a user that a telephone call is about to be re-established.70. The system of claim 69, wherein the notifying comprises an audiblealert.
 71. The system of claim 69, wherein the notifying comprises avibratory alert.
 72. The system of claim 69, wherein the notifyingcomprises a visual alert.
 73. The system of claim 1, wherein the one ormore predetermined factors are user-definable.
 74. The system of claim73, wherein the one or more predetermined factors comprise informationidentifying a designated calling party.
 75. The system of claim 73,wherein the one or more predetermined factors comprise a cost of use ofa communication network.
 76. The system of claim 1, wherein the one ormore predetermined factors employed in the determining are selectedbased upon an air interface technology of a wireless communicationnetwork.
 77. The system of claim 25, wherein the one or morepredetermined factors are user-definable.
 78. The system of claim 77,wherein the one or more predetermined factors comprise informationidentifying a designated called party.
 79. The system of claim 77,wherein the one or more predetermined factors comprise a cost of use ofan available communication network.
 80. The system of claim 25, whereinthe one or more predetermined factors employed in the determining areselected based upon an air interface technology of a wirelesscommunication network.
 81. The system of claim 49, wherein the one ormore predetermined factors are user-definable.
 82. The system of claim81, wherein the one or more predetermined factors comprise informationidentifying a designated called or calling party.
 83. The system ofclaim 81, wherein the one or more predetermined factors comprise a costof use of an available communication network.
 84. The system of claim49, wherein the one or more predetermined factors employed in thedetermining are selected based upon an air interface technology of awireless communication network.
 85. The system of claim 1, wherein saidascertaining of whether the calling party is capable of automaticallyestablishing the second telephone call upon failure of the firsttelephone call comprises exchanging information using short messageservice (SMS) messaging.
 86. The system of claim 25, wherein saidascertaining of whether the called party is capable of automaticallyestablishing the second telephone call upon failure of the firsttelephone call comprises exchanging information using short messageservice (SMS) messaging.
 87. The system of claim 49, wherein thesubscriber database comprises one of a home location register (HLR) anda database at a mobile switching center (MSC).
 88. A system foroperating a wireless mobile device that automatically re-establishes atelephone call after unintended disconnection, the system comprising:one or more circuits operable to wirelessly receive, via a communicationnetwork, a first telephone call having associated informationidentifying a calling party; said one or more circuits operable todetermine whether the calling party or the wireless mobile device is toestablish a second telephone call between the calling party and thewireless mobile device upon failure of the first telephone call; saidone or more circuits operable to store the information identifying thecalling party of the first telephone call; said one or more circuitsoperable to detect a failure of the first telephone call; said one ormore circuits operable to determine whether call re-establishment shouldbe attempted, based upon one or more pre-determined factors; and saidone or more circuits operable to automatically establish the secondtelephone call from the wireless mobile device to the calling party ofthe first telephone call using the stored information, if it isdetermined that the wireless mobile device is to establish the secondtelephone call upon failure of the first telephone call, whereindetermining whether the calling party is to establish a second telephonecall between the calling party and the wireless mobile device uponfailure of the first telephone call comprises: ascertaining whether thecalling party is capable of automatically establishing the secondtelephone call upon failure of the first telephone call; and negotiatingto determine whether the wireless mobile device or the calling party isto establish the second telephone call, if the calling party is capableof automatically establishing the second telephone call upon failure ofthe first telephone call.
 89. The system of claim 88, wherein thewireless communication network comprises a cellular communicationnetwork.
 90. The system of claim 88, wherein the detecting uses at leastone characteristic of a wireless communication link.
 91. The system ofclaim 90, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a signalstrength.
 92. The system of claim 90, wherein the at least onecharacteristic comprises an error rate.
 93. The system of claim 90,wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a signal-to-noiseratio.
 94. The system of claim 90, wherein the at least onecharacteristic comprises an Eb/No measurement.
 95. The system of claim88, wherein said at least one processor is operable to wait apredetermined amount of time.
 96. The system of claim 88, wherein theestablishing comprises: determining whether at least one characteristicof a wireless communication link meets a predetermined condition;initiating the second telephone call, if the predetermined condition ismet; and refraining from initiating the second telephone call, if thepredetermined condition is not met.
 97. The system of claim 96, whereinthe at least one characteristic comprises a signal strength.
 98. Thesystem of claim 96, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises anerror rate.
 99. The system of claim 96, wherein the at least onecharacteristic comprises a signal-to-noise ratio.
 100. The system ofclaim 96, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises an Eb/Nomeasurement.
 101. The system of claim 88, wherein the stored informationcomprises a dialable telephone number.
 102. The system of claim 88,wherein the stored information comprises a directory number (DN). 103.The system of claim 88, wherein the stored information comprises atemporary location directory number (TLDN).
 104. The system of claim 88,wherein the stored information comprises a mobile identification number(MIN).
 105. The system of claim 88, wherein the stored informationcomprises an international mobile station identifier (IMSI).
 106. Thesystem of claim 88, wherein the stored information comprises a temporarymobile station identifier (TMSI).
 107. The system of claim 88, whereinthe stored information comprises an electronic serial number (ESN). 108.The system of claim 88, wherein said one or more circuits is operable tonotify a user that a telephone call is about to be re-established. 109.The system of claim 108, wherein the notifying comprises an audiblealert.
 110. The system of claim 108, wherein the notifying comprises avibratory alert.
 111. The system of claim 108, wherein the notifyingcomprises a visual alert.
 112. A system of operating a wireless mobiledevice that automatically re-establishes a telephone call afterunintended disconnection, the system comprising: one or more circuitsoperable to wirelessly originate, via a communication network, a firsttelephone call having associated information identifying a called party;said one or more circuits operable to determine whether the called partyor the wireless mobile device is to establish a second telephone callbetween the called party and the wireless mobile device upon failure ofthe first telephone call; said one or more circuits operable to storethe information identifying the called party of the first telephonecall; said one or more circuits operable to detect a failure of thefirst telephone call; said one or more circuits operable to determinewhether call re-establishment should be attempted, based upon one ormore pre-determined factors; and said one or more circuits operable toautomatically establish the second telephone call from the wirelessmobile device to the called party of the first telephone call using thestored information, if it is determined that the wireless mobile deviceis to establish the second telephone call upon failure of the firsttelephone call, wherein determining whether the called party is toestablish a second telephone call between the called party and thewireless mobile device upon failure of the first telephone callcomprises: ascertaining whether the called party is capable ofautomatically establishing the second telephone call upon failure of thefirst telephone call; and negotiating to determine whether the wirelessmobile device or the called party is to establish the second telephonecall, if the calling party is capable of automatically establishing thesecond telephone call upon failure of the first telephone call.
 113. Thesystem of claim 112, wherein the wireless communication networkcomprises a cellular communication network.
 114. The system of claim112, wherein the detecting uses at least one characteristic of awireless communication link.
 115. The system of claim 114, wherein theat least one characteristic comprises a signal strength.
 116. The systemof claim 114, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises an errorrate.
 117. The system of claim 114, wherein the at least onecharacteristic comprises a signal-to-noise ratio.
 118. The system ofclaim 114, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises an Eb/Nomeasurement.
 119. The system of claim 112, wherein said at least oneprocessor is operable to wait a predetermined amount of time.
 120. Thesystem of claim 112, wherein the establishing comprises: determiningwhether at least one characteristic of a wireless communication linkmeets a predetermined condition; initiating the second telephone call,if the predetermined condition is met; and refraining from initiatingthe second telephone call, if the predetermined condition is not met.121. The system of claim 120, wherein the at least one characteristiccomprises a signal strength.
 122. The system of claim 120, wherein theat least one characteristic comprises an error rate.
 123. The system ofclaim 120, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises asignal-to-noise ratio.
 124. The system of claim 120, wherein the atleast one characteristic comprises an Eb/No measurement.
 125. The systemof claim 112, wherein the stored information comprises a dialabletelephone number.
 126. The system of claim 112, wherein the storedinformation comprises a directory number (DN).
 127. The system of claim112, wherein the stored information comprises a temporary locationdirectory number (TLDN).
 128. The system of claim 112, wherein thestored information comprises a mobile identification number (MIN). 129.The system of claim 112, wherein the stored information comprises aninternational mobile station identifier (IMSI).
 130. The system of claim112, wherein the stored information comprises a temporary mobile stationidentifier (TMSI).
 131. The system of claim 112, wherein the storedinformation comprises an electronic serial number (ESN).
 132. The systemof claim 112, wherein said one or more circuits is operable to notify auser that a telephone call is about to be re-established.
 133. Thesystem of claim 132, wherein the notifying comprises an audible alert.134. The system of claim 132, wherein the notifying comprises avibratory alert.
 135. The system of claim 132, wherein the notifyingcomprises a visual alert.
 136. A system of automatically re-establishinga telephone call after unintended disconnection, the system comprising:one or more circuits operable to establish a first telephone callbetween a first party having associated information identifying thefirst party and a second party having associated information identifyingthe second party, one or both of the first party and/or the second partycommunicating wirelessly via a communication network; said one or morecircuits operable to store the information identifying the first partyand the second party; said one or more circuits operable to detect afailure of the first telephone call; said one or more circuits operableto ascertain whether one or both of the first party and/or the secondparty have requested that a second telephone call be established betweenthe first party and the second party by the communication network in theevent of the failure of the first telephone call; said one or morecircuits operable to determine whether call re-establishment should beattempted, based upon one or more pre-determined factors; and said oneor more circuits operable to automatically establish the secondtelephone call between the first party and the second party, using thestored information, if it is determined that one or both of the firstparty and/or the second party have requested that a lost call beautomatically re-established, wherein ascertaining whether one or bothof the first party and/or the second party have requested that a secondtelephone call be established between the first party and the secondparty by the communication network in the event of the failure of thefirst telephone call comprises examining a subscriber database todetermine whether one or both of the first party and the second partyhave requested that a lost call be automatically re-established. 137.The system of claim 136, wherein the wireless communication networkcomprises a cellular communication network.
 138. The system of claim136, wherein the detecting uses at least one characteristic of awireless communication link.
 139. The system of claim 138, wherein theat least one characteristic comprises a signal strength.
 140. The systemof claim 138, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises an errorrate.
 141. The system of claim 138, wherein the at least onecharacteristic comprises a signal-to-noise ratio.
 142. The system ofclaim 138, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises an Eb/Nomeasurement.
 143. The system of claim 136, wherein said at least oneprocessor is operable to wait a predetermined amount of time.
 144. Thesystem of claim 136, wherein the establishing comprises: determiningwhether at least one characteristic of a wireless communication linkmeets a predetermined condition; initiating the second telephone call,if the predetermined condition is met; and refraining from initiatingthe second telephone call, if the predetermined condition is not met.145. The system of claim 144, wherein the at least one characteristiccomprises a signal strength.
 146. The system of claim 144, wherein theat least one characteristic comprises an error rate.
 147. The system ofclaim 144, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises asignal-to-noise ratio.
 148. The system of claim 144, wherein the atleast one characteristic comprises an Eb/No measurement.
 149. The systemof claim 136, wherein the stored information comprises a dialabletelephone number.
 150. The system of claim 136, wherein the storedinformation comprises a directory number (DN).
 151. The system of claim136, wherein the stored information comprises a temporary locationdirectory number (TLDN).
 152. The system of claim 136, wherein thestored information comprises a mobile identification number (MIN). 153.The system of claim 136, wherein the stored information comprises aninternational mobile station identifier (IMSI).
 154. The system of claim136, wherein the stored information comprises a temporary mobile stationidentifier (TMSI).
 155. The system of claim 136, wherein the storedinformation comprises an electronic serial number (ESN).
 156. The systemof claim 136, wherein said one or more circuits is operable to notify auser that a telephone call is about to be re-established.
 157. Thesystem of claim 156, wherein the notifying comprises an audible alert.158. The system of claim 156, wherein the notifying comprises avibratory alert.
 159. The system of claim 156, wherein the notifyingcomprises a visual alert.
 160. The system of claim 88, wherein the oneor more predetermined factors are user-definable.
 161. The system ofclaim 160, wherein the one or more predetermined factors compriseinformation identifying a designated calling party.
 162. The system ofclaim 160, wherein the one or more predetermined factors comprise a costof use of a communication network.
 163. The system of claim 88, whereinthe one or more predetermined factors employed in the determining areselected based upon an air interface technology of a wirelesscommunication network.
 164. The system of claim 112, wherein the one ormore predetermined factors are user-definable.
 165. The system of claim164, wherein the one or more predetermined factors comprise informationidentifying a designated called party.
 166. The system of claim 164,wherein the one or more predetermined factors comprise a cost of use ofan available communication network.
 167. The system of claim 112,wherein the one or more predetermined factors employed in thedetermining are selected based upon an air interface technology of awireless communication network.
 168. The system of claim 136, whereinthe one or more predetermined factors are user-definable.
 169. Thesystem of claim 168, wherein the one or more predetermined factorscomprise information identifying a designated called or calling party.170. The system of claim 168, wherein the one or more predeterminedfactors comprise a cost of use of an available communication network.171. The system of claim 136, wherein the one or more predeterminedfactors employed in the determining are selected based upon an airinterface technology of a wireless communication network.
 172. Thesystem of claim 88, wherein ascertaining whether the calling party iscapable of automatically establishing the second telephone call uponfailure of the first telephone call comprises exchanging informationusing short message service (SMS) messaging.
 173. The system of claim112, wherein ascertaining whether the called party is capable ofautomatically establishing the second telephone call upon failure of thefirst telephone call comprises exchanging information using shortmessage service (SMS) messaging.
 174. The system of claim 136, whereinthe subscriber database comprises one of a home location register (HLR)and a database at a mobile switching center (MSC).